Download Liatris pycnostachya – Prairie Blazing Star

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Liatris pycnostachya – Prairie Blazing Star
COMMON NAME: Prairie Blazing-star, Gayfeather, Tall Blazingstar
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Liatris pycnostachya – Greek pycnos means “dense” or “thick”
referring to the flower spike and also the leaves.
FLOWER COLOR: pink or magenta
BLOOMING PERIOD: July to September
SIZE: 6-12 inch flower spike on an unbranched 1-4 foot stem
BEHAVIOR: Hardy perennial. A dense spike of small clumps of 5-7 tiny flowers give
this plant an almost fuzzy appearance.
SITE REQUIREMENTS: Grows best in moist, well-drained soils. Can be planted in
full sun or in areas with sun most of the day. Prefers a pH of 6-8 (slightly acidic).
SPECIAL FEATURES: Very showy excellent butterfly flower. Can be used as a cut
flower. The flower spikes may be heavy enough that the plant needs staking in a
small garden. Ideal for prairie gardens mixed with medium to tall grasses to help
support the spikes. Seeds attract winter birds.
SUGGESTED CARE: Best propagated by seed, but the corm can be divided. Seeds
require scarification (lightly nick with a knife) and moist stratification (3 months at
400 F.) in order to germinate.
NATURAL RANGE: Damp prairies, Wisconsin to Minnesota and South Dakota, south
to Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.
COMPANION PLANTS: Culver’s root, eastern shooting star, spiderwort, rattlesnake
master and tall grasses such as Indian grass and big bluestem.